Writes Wired: The work of German filmmakers peddling a satirical movie called Short Cut to Hollywood, the elaborate hoax involved at least two faked websites, a faked Wikipedia entry and California phone numbers for “public safety” officials that were actually being answered by hoaxsters in Germany using Skype.

The alleged terrorists in this scam were a German rap group. Well, that should’ve been the first clue that it was a hoax.

It was actually a very impressive prank, but pranks are sometimes like “all you can eat” buffets. To paraphrase comedian Kevin Meaney: Just because you can eat “all you can eat,” doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea.

And in the same way, there are great pranks that should stay on the cocktail napkin where they were first drawn up. Examples: Your prank to make your neighbor run outside naked. My prank to be a blogger.

And the Bluewater hoax would be one of those best left unprankified.

Of course, the bigger lesson is this: Don’t believe anything you read on the Web.

Why, I might even be making this story up as part of an elaborate hoax for both of my regular readers.

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